Verstappen not ruling out future Ferrari, Mercedes switch

Max Verstappen has not ruled out that he could move to Ferrari or Mercedes in the future. The Dutchman has been disappointed by his 2017 season with Red Bull, as not only is the car failing to match the front runners in pace, but unreliability has cost the 19-year-old a chance at some more podium finishes.

Verstappen doesn't care what team he's with, as long as he has a competitive car: "I know Ferrari has a great story in Formula 1. It's the same for Mercedes, by the way. Quite honestly, I only want to sit in the best possible car. The colour doesn't really matter."

Red Bull was expected to challenge Mercedes this season in the wake of a rule change in the aerodynamic department. Despite appearing as though they are not in the fight for the championship, Verstappen still has faith for the future: "I believe in the strength of Red Bull. We're on the right track. The car and the engine are constantly improving." 

Verstappen's driving style has come under criticism from some of his fellow drivers, and so he was branded with the nickname 'Mad Max'. However, Verstappen doesn't care what his colleagues call him, stating that there is only one way to drive on the track.

"They can call me what they want," he insisted. "'Mad Max' or whatever. I say that on the track you have to be an assh*le. Look at Michael Schumacher! At the end of the day, a F1 driver needs to know how to win races and titles, not how to be a nice guy.

"I do not expect him to send me a Christmas card or invite me to his birthday," laughed when asked about Sebastian Vettel. "Daniel (Ricciardo) is a bigger challenge for me. When the two of them drove for the same team in 2014, Daniel was stronger."

Fergal Walsh